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30 April 2014

No, it doesn't feel like summer yet. Not even spring unfortunately. That's why I felt we needed some beautiful images to inspire us to think about lovely warm days and casual relaxed living. This home in Denmark shows how easily white rooms, mixed with wood and natural elements can give a serene, beachy feel to your home.

So how to get that casual cottage feel without spending much or consuming new products?

Give your kitchen cabinets a facelift by painting them white. Floors a little scuffed and worn? Sand down and whitewash them instead of purchasing new. Hang a simple but bold white pendant over your dining table. Gather summer treasures like shells, interesting rocks, baskets and turquoise vases to create simple vignettes. And bring in plants and flowers to create an indoor-outdoor feel.

23 April 2014

A greenhouse could be what you need. What better way to grow your own food year round? An investment up front, for sure, but it has big payoffs on grocery bills, healthy living and the environment. And they can be just so darn pretty!

21 April 2014

Happy Earth Day everyone. I hope we can all find a few moments today to decide to do something now, and throughout the year, to steward this beautiful planet we live on. Whether it's plugging electronics into power bars and switching them off when not in use, growing plants and vegetables on our balconies and yards, or helping to clean up our neighborhoods and trails, let's take some time to get outdoors, breath the fresh air, and do our part. Enjoy the week!

17 April 2014

15 April 2014

This bathroom in the renovated Austrailian home of architects Kate Fitzpatrick and Ben Stibbard is contemporary with natural elements and great functionality. The floating vanity doesn't take up a lot of visual space, yet provides lots of closed storage. I love that they created a double vanity but used only one sink, thereby creating more counter space and also not purchasing two sinks! The wooden counter, which carries all the way around the exterior of the cabinet is very modern with a natural touch. Oversized slate tiles add the feeling of space, and all white walls, including a tiled shower surround from ceiling to floor, cuts down on visual clutter. Brilliant.

11 April 2014

One of my favourite times of year was just before Easter when I spent a weekend at my Nana's making Easter eggs. So I swoon over the many creative designs that are posted online these days. These have made my top ten for this year.

3 April 2014

Whether you work in a cubicle or at home, refreshing your office to create an organized, healthy and comfortable space will allow you to be more productive, less stressed and generally more healthy. Here are a few easy ways to accomplish this.

1. Clean off your desk and keep things in their place. Have a drawer or filing system for papers and to-do lists. Better yet, get them online in the cloud so they are available on all your devices, or get an app for list making and reminders, thereby reducing paper consumption.

2. Use vintage wooden boxes for business cards, and ceramic pots, mugs and bowls for pens, paperclips and do-dads.

3. Add some plants. They not only add natural beauty, they also clean pollutants out of the air and add in oxygen and humidy, making it more comfortable to breathe and have brilliant ideas.

4. Display a personal picture or two in a nice frame. A mugshot of family members or that drawing by your nephew will instantly put a smile on your face while dealing with a looming deadline.

5. Create a pretty DIY mousepad. This post shows how I made mine from a repurposed coffee can lid.

6. Drink lots of water and do it from a refilable glass bottle. A ceramic or glass refillable mug for tea or coffee also helps cut down on paper and plastic cup waste, and can look pretty too. These ones are from ello.

7. Use essentials oils to create a subtle calming atmosphere. The aroma of natural essential oils stimulates the brain and can lift your mood and help alleviate stress. Scenting your office with lavender essential oil is said to reduce computer errors by 25%!

8. Finally, make sure your chair is comfortable. An ergonomic chair will ensure your feet are flat on the floor and your arms at a 90 degree angle when typing. It'll make a world of difference to your back and shoulders.

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